A HARD-WORKING Evesham group has reached its target of 100 blankets for refugees displaced by the conflict in Syria thanks to the dedication of almost 50 knitters.
The Evesham Vale Welcomes Refugees Blanket Project set their target after they heard of the need from the Malvern-based People in Motion charity during one of the regular Clothing Collections for refugees in Calais, Greece and Syria.
Initially just a few people started knitting squares but this soon developed into a dozen supporters meeting every week at Evesham Methodist Church to knit and natter.
It has taken nearly a year to reach the 100 blanket target and they have been completed by a whole range of people throughout the Vale. Each blanket is made up of seventy-two six inch squares.
Organiser Jean Pritchard said: “We do not even know where all the squares have come from, as there is a box left in the Methodist Church which some weeks is simply overflowing.”
Groups from other churches, individuals, and clients of Delicious café on the High Street have all joined in the project.
“A special thank-you is due to Daniella and Clem at Delicious for supplying materials in their café for people to knit while relaxing with their coffees. Information is on the Cafe’s Facebook page, so people have dropped in bag-loads of squares there as well.
“The group has been given regular donations of money for wool, has some people who help with sewing the squares together and recently have received a large donation of wool from Evesham Knitters.”
EVWR chair Rev Edward Pillar said: “We have been asked how long the project will last. The answer is, as long as there are refugees and displaced people, which unfortunately looks as if it will be a very long time.
“We continue to hope some Syrian families will be housed in Wychavon under the Government’s scheme for vulnerable families,” he added.
The group also held its fifth clothing collection for People in Motion last Saturday (March 30) with the next one planned for the summer.
